Amritsar: More than 40 years after the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence, the families of those killed are still awaiting justice, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said on Sunday.
Remembering the victims, Dhami said the violence had left a deep and lasting scar on the Sikh community. He paid tribute to the men, women and children who lost their lives in attacks across Delhi and other parts of India, adding that the passage of decades had not eased the pain of their families.
What Did Harjinder Singh Dhami Say About The 1984 Massacre?
In his statement, the SGPC chief alleged that the attacks on Sikhs, which began on November 1, 1984, continued for nearly a week with the support of the Congress government then in power.
He described the killings as a grave crime against humanity and said the massacre had damaged India’s standing as the world’s largest democracy.
Dhami maintained that those responsible for the violence should have faced punishment through the legal system. He further accused the Congress of shielding leaders who were facing allegations related to the massacre, claiming that some of them were later elevated to important political positions.
SGPC Chief Says Victims’ Families Still Await Justice
Dhami said the Sikh community had made substantial contributions and sacrifices during India’s freedom struggle, but had repeatedly faced injustice after Independence.
He added that November remains an especially painful period for survivors and families who lost relatives in the 1984 violence, as memories of the killings return every year.
Calling on governments to act, Dhami said concrete measures were needed to secure justice for the affected families and ensure that those responsible were held accountable.
He also stressed that the demand for justice was not limited to the families of the victims. In his view, the issue was closely linked to the protection of human rights, democratic principles and people’s confidence in the justice system.
Golden Temple Complex To Host Prayer On November 2
Dhami said the Sikh community would continue to remember those killed in the massacre and would not allow the tragedy to fade from public memory.
To commemorate the victims, the SGPC will organise the conclusion of an Akhand Path Sahib at the Sri Darbar Sahib complex on November 2. An ardas will also be offered in their memory.
